Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Vice-Marshal C M Stewart (32180)

Colin Murray                b: 17 Jun 1910                     r: 31 Aug 1968                    d: 24 Nov 1990

CB -  2 Jun 1962, CBE – 5 Jun 1952 (OBE – 14 Jun 1945),

(RAF): - Act Plt Off: 1 Apr 1932, Plt Off: 1 Apr 1933, Fg Off: 1 Nov 1934, Flt Lt: 1 Nov 1936, Sqn Ldr: 1 Apr 1939, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Jun 1941, Act Gp Capt: 1 May 1944, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1944, Wg Cdr (WS): 1 Nov 1944, Wg Cdr: 1 Oct 1946, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1948, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1957, Act AVM:  5 Jun 1961, AVM: 1 Jan 1963.

 1 Apr 1932:                Appointed to a Short Service Commission.

 1 Apr 1932:                Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

16 Apr 1932:                U/T Pilot, No 3 FTS

 8 May 1933:               Attended School of Army Co-operation.

xx xxx xxxx:                  Supernumerary?

24 Oct 1933:                Pilot, No 5 Sqn.

26 Feb 1936:               En-route to Home Establishment

29 Apr 1936:               Attended Electrical and Wireless School.

30 Jun 1937:                Signals Officer, No 16 Sqn.

 7 Apr 1938:                Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

 1 May 1939:               Signals Officer, HQ No 41 Group

21 Sep 1939:               Signals Officer, HQ No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group

24 Apr 1940:               Transferred to the Technical Branch

 1 Dec 1940:                Signals Officer, HQ, No 71 (Army Co-operation) Group

10 Feb 1941:               Chief Signals Officer, HQ Army Co-operation Command.

 1 Jan 1944:                 Signals Officer, HQ 2nd Tactical Air Force.

 1 May 1944:               Chief Signals Officer, HQ No 85 Group.

xx xxx xxxx:                 ?

28 Feb 1949:               Deputy Director of Signals

xx Jan 1955:                 Staff Officer, NATO Standing Group, Washington.

 1 Jun 1957:                 AOC, No 27 (Training) Group

 1 Dec 1958:                Senior Electronics Staff Officer, HQ Fighter Command

 5 Jun 1961:                 Director General of Signals

15 Jun 1964:                Senior Technical Staff Officer, HQ Fighter Command

29 Mar 1967:               Senior Air Staff Officer, HQ Technical Training Command

Following retirement he became Controller of Computing Services at London University from 1968 to 1973.

Citation for the award of Officer of the Order of the British Empire

"STEWART, Collin Murray, G/C (32180 Royal Air Force) - Headquarters, No.85 Group

When the invasion of Normandy was decided upon, this officer was appointed to Headquarters, No.83 Group and later was seconded to America on special signals duties. On his return to this country he was posted to Headquarters, Second Tactical Air Force where he worked long and arduous hours in signals planning for the invasion. His success was such that he was then appointed Chief Signals Officer to Headquarters, No.85 Group when the post was upgraded to Group Captain rank in May 1944. During the period when the Group was being built up, Group Captain Stewart formed and trained a large number of signals units of very different types, some of which performed invaluable service on D Day.  Since No.85 Group moved its Headquarters to the Continent the signals problems might well have dismayed a lesser man but, by his great technical ability, determination and devotion to duty, Group Captain Stewart has successfully overcome the difficulties and ensured the efficiency of the Group as a whole."

(Source - Air 2/9056)

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